Former Player Sues Mississippi Coach Lane Kiffin for Allegedly Discriminating and Kicking Him Off Team
In a shocking turn of events, former Mississippi player DeSanto Rollins has filed a lawsuit against coach Lane Kiffin, accusing him of kicking him off the team after he missed practices and meetings during a mental health crisis. Rollins filed the lawsuit on Thursday, alleging various claims including failure to provide equal protection, race discrimination, and sexual discrimination.
Rollins claims that he was the victim of adverse action by Kiffin and the school after he sought and took a mental health break. He argues that white and female student-athletes have not faced similar consequences for taking similar breaks. The school, in response, denies that Rollins was ever removed from the team and emphasizes that he remains on scholarship.
One of Rollins’ key complaints is that the school lacked written institutional procedures for routine mental health referrals, and that coaches and trainers were not adequately trained to recognize signs of mental health disorders and related behavioral concerns among student-athletes.
According to the civil complaint, Rollins alleges that he suffered multiple injuries that led to severe depression. The death of his grandmother in early 2023 further contributed to his mental health struggles. On February 27, 2023, Kiffin reportedly informed Rollins that he would be moved to the scout team offensive line after he declined to enter the transfer portal.
Seeking a mental health break, Rollins refused to meet with Kiffin until March 21, 2023. At this meeting, Rollins secretly recorded their conversation without Kiffin’s knowledge. According to the transcript attached to the lawsuit, Kiffin can be heard making derogatory comments and questioning the validity of Rollins’ mental health issues.
Rollins claims that Kiffin’s disrespectful behavior led to his expulsion from the team. Kiffin allegedly told Rollins, “Go, you’re off the team. You’re done. See ya.” The coach asserted that Rollins’ absence and failure to meet with him constituted grounds for removal.
This incident has sparked a discussion about the treatment of college football players and their status as unpaid employees. While the case proceeds, Kiffin and Mississippi could face significant challenges to their reputations and potential legal repercussions.
Rollins, when approached for comment, expressed his love for Ole Miss but stated that he feels unloved by the university. The case was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, and the school has yet to receive the official complaint.
Once the school receives the complaint, it is expected that they will conduct an investigation into the matter, which may have implications for Lane Kiffin’s employment with the university. As this situation continues to unfold, there is heightened scrutiny surrounding how colleges handle mental health issues among their student-athletes.